Humility and forgiveness — Part 1 A reflection for Good Friday 40 blogs of Lent — day 38 The Galilean ministry of Jesus is over. Over a period of time his ministry has taken him into Gentile lands, first just across the Jordan to Bethsaida, then to Tyre and Sidon, the Decapolis and Caesarea Philippi. …
Continue reading Forgiveness has been brought into the present — Matthew 18:21–27
Humility and honesty— part 2 40 blogs of Lent — day 38 Oops, looking for an image to illustrate the phrase, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven I found images that I imagine 50 shades of Gray would have, even though I have the worst of this filtered: It was revealing. …
Continue reading God is at the centre of fellowship — Matthew 18:18–20
Humility and honesty— part 1 40 blogs of Lent — day 37 We all like to be with people with whom we have things in common. We choose to drink with people with a similar interest or political outlook, and social media does not connect us with a wider range of people but a narrower …
Humility and trust — part 2 40 blogs of Lent — day 36 I have been disabled for the last 15 years. Uneven flooring is my bane. Of course with my crutches I have learned to be pretty good over any terrain, even the cobbles in historic cities, which can be testing. Anything that causes …
Continue reading Cut your hands off? Scandal! — Matthew 18:7–14
Holy Trinity Church, HuddersfieldSunday 28th March 2021 In the news this week, Lord Braid, one of Scotland's most senior judges, ruled that the Scottish Government overstepped its powers in closing church buildings in Scotland during the pandemic. "Worship in their faiths cannot properly take place on-line, by means of internet platforms." was part of that …
Humility and trust — part 1 40 blogs of Lent — day 34 Years and years ago, one of the music papers, probably Sounds, held polls where they asked bass players to name three songs with the best bass playing on, or ask keyboard players for songs with the best keyboard playing on. Guitarist Ted …
Continue reading When you know you’ve got it you’ve lost it — Matthew 18:1–7
The glory of Jesus — part 6 40 blogs of Lent — day 33 The temple tax collectors did not come to Jesus, they do not even come looking for Jesus. Peter's reputation of (to use a mixed metaphor) opening his mouth and putting his foot in it has gone before him. Jesus has turned the …
The glory of Jesus — part 5 40 blogs of Lent — day 32 intro There are 5 times that Jesus uses mustard seeds in his teaching. Three are where he, using hyperbole as emphasis, talked about the smallest of seeds growing into the largest of trees (Matthew 13:31–32 and parallel passages in Mark and Luke). …
Continue reading The need for discernment — Matthew 17:19–23
The glory of Jesus — part 4 40 blogs of Lent — day 31 The painting 'Transfiguration' by Raphael is unusual. Painted as an altarpiece for Narbonne Cathedral in France and commissioned by the later Pope Clement VII, the upper part of the picture shows Jesus in radiant glory with Moses and Elijah alongside and the lower …
The glory of Jesus — part 3 40 blogs of Lent — day 30 For a change the scribes were right. The disciples Peter, James and John wanted to know why the scribes said that Elijah must come first. It is simple, it is because it was prophesied in their scriptures. Malachi 4:5 says, "Behold, I …
